CASE REPORT ON A NOVEL MANAGEMENT APPROACH FOR A BODY PACKER IN INDIA

Abstract

Packaging of illicit drugs , concealed within the body by swallowing or insertion into vagina or rectum is called body packing. A 50 year old male patient brought by the customs department with alleged complaints of ingesting 50-60 contraband substance packets 6 days ago ; with no associated vomiting / pain abdomen / fever. General survey including vitals were under normal limits and examination of the abdomen was soft with no palpable mass or tenderness .Preliminary routine blood workup showed no derangements. Imaging studies like CT scan revealed multiple, well dened hyper-dense foreign bodies(drug packets) within small and large bowel loops with no signs of obstruction. A conservative management approach was adopted for this patient with IV uids, antibiotics, analgesics , antiemetics , proton pump inhibitors along with bulk laxatives. Intensive monitoring and frequent physical examination was done. The patient purged out a total of 108 drug packets in 6 days , with an uneventful hospital stay.